“'Twas the Week Before C'ms”

Description from Little Round Chick: The temp is about 70 degrees with sunshine and blue sky. I have three different colors of tiny orchids blooming in my front yard. The crown of thorns is a brilliant scarlet, the ornamental pomegranate is loaded with vermilion buds and the jade plant hedge is starting to bloom. I've got green grass and trees and a screaming fuchsia ice plant that is starting to bloom. And this , my dear friends, is December in southern California. Next week will either be HOT and DRY or raining like a sun-of-a-gun with temps in the low 30's. Merry Christmas to all of you and please don't shoot me. :D

I wouldn’t think about shooting you. How could I when I live in FL. Just had to carry all my blooming orchids back into the greenhouse because we are going to be in the 40′s tonight. Tomorrow night is going to be in the 30′s. Brrrr I can’t wait for warm to come back. I like your orchid color pick. Merry Christmas

The orchids I have are terrestrial orchids and are very hardy and sun loving. They are partially shaded by a wide spreading Brazilian Pepper tree so unless the temp gets below 25 degrees they are safe outside. We get just enough marine influence we seldom have a freeze. However, six miles further inland across the first series of foot hills temps get considerably colder.

I have one true terrestrial and it is a warm grower. All 1500 other orchids are hot to warm growers and can not go below 50 degrees. Some cattleya can, but not 30′s, so they got moved in as well. Ruby crazy lace is the color of one cat that is in bloom now.

Lady of Beads! 1500 orchids!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have trouble taking care of the 13 that I have! How do you find the time to take care of all those beauties and bead and do everything else!!! Whew!
I might have to pick your brain sometime about orchids and getting certain varieties to bloom.

Feel free to pick my brain. I taught orchidology to faculty and staff at a local collage. My greenhouses are automated except for heat. Spring is he-double ll toothpicks. Repotting is not automated. I am asked to speak at and teach at local orchid societie, so ask away. I may not know all your orchids, but I will find out for you. You are right about beading. In spring beading does not happen until all repotting is done. My cabana boy (hubby) helps with all except potting of my orchids. He is totally in charge of heaters except for setting temperatures. I listen to great music while I take care of my orchids and bead designs take shape in my mind. There is always something to look forward to.

I’d say you are into orchids, Lady of Beads! If I say epidendrum you won’t look at me like I’m off my rocker. I do love the little flowers on these orchids. I have one with coral colored flowers that is hardy with a capital H. The others are still young. One is sunshine yellow, another is “orchid” color (light violet) and there are the red and the white that are just loafing along and not doing much yet.

Love the pick LRC. I thought I had a garden bug. I have a master gardners certificate in Ohio, but Florida is not the same by any means. I have seen insects I never dreamed existed since moving here. Other that being able to grow some things here I could not grow in Ohio and visa versa for Florida. (I miss peonies and Lilacs for starters.) Well lets not go there……